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Editorial — RADAR 'up-GRADE'

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NPS RADAR is published three times a year, in line with major updates to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, in print and online formats. It is also integrated into primary care clinical software, and readers can subscribe to electronic updates via email.

With more than 250 million prescriptions subsidised annually and 80–100 new drugs added each year to the PBS it is important for clinicians to have timely, accurate, independent and evidence-based information about new PBS-listed medicines.

To ensure RADAR reviews meet these needs, a rigorous production process lies behind each issue.

Topics for each RADAR issue are selected by an advisory panel consisting of GPs, specialists and consumer advocates. A draft of each article is reviewed internally for accuracy and style quality before sending for external review by the advisory panel, relevant clinical experts and the pharmaceutical company that made the submission for PBS listing.

Comments are considered and, where appropriate, changes made and the revised draft sent again to the reviewers for feedback. Although manufacturers are provided the opportunity to comment, not all comments are accepted, but a rejoinder may be published on the NPS website if there is disagreement. This ensures the final product is accurate, independent and an authoritative interpretation of the evidence and its clinical relevance.

The GRADE approach has been endorsed by many national and international organisations as a systematic and transparent framework for communicating the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations in healthcare.

For selected reviews, when RCTs are critically appraised we will now provide, in the online version only, a summary and conclusion on the quality of the evidence by considering these GRADE criteria and quality levels. See the online version of the review of tapentadol for an example.

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Date published: 1 August 2014Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. NPS MedicineWise disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer. This website uses cookies. Read our privacy policy.